International: Ireland-Scotlland 2008 bid will win predicts minister

Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell is predicting victory for the joint Ireland-Scotland bid to stage the European Championships in 2008.

McConnell has flown to Stockholm with Scottish national team manager Berti Vogts to push the joint bid's claims at this week's UEFA Congress.

McConnell delivered his upbeat message as he unveiled a new logo for the joint Scottish-Irish bid.

The logo, designed by eight-year-old Robbie Hutt from Inverness, was also unveiled in Dublin by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Ireland coach and Celtic goalkeeping legend Pat Bonner.

UEFA, which is holding elections for its executive body in Stockholm, urged bidding countries to attend the gathering to give up dates on their bids.

Question marks still hang over Ireland’s commitment to the joint bid with Scotland concerning its ability to provide two stadiums alongside Scotland’s six.

Tanaiste Mary Harney has stated her opposition to a new national stadium and warned that she would not compromise if her Progressive Democrats gained coalition power in the upcoming general election.

But McConnell was confident that the Irish government would deliver on their side of the bargain during today’s press conference.

McConnell said: ‘‘Irish public opinion is strongly in favour of top quality sporting facilities and Ireland’s participation in the bid.

‘‘The politicians will reflect that during and after the general election and the Irish government have given up a commitment and I will trust them to stick to that commitment.

‘‘Those in the Scottish media who want to blame someone for this should just stop and let’s get on with uniting behind the bid.’’

Former German coach Vogts took a light-hearted side-swipe at Scotland and Ireland's rival which include a joint Austria-Switzerland bid and a four-way Scandinavian bid including Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.

‘‘I’m so happy I can help football and I’m sure that we have the best supporters in the world with their passion for the game,’’ said Vogts.

’’Also we have the biggest stadium and I’m sure footballing fans will want to come to a footballing nation, not a skiing nation.’’